John 21:21-22 (ESV)
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Peter thought he had resolved his internal conflict after grappling with his own emotions in the confrontation of his love towards Jesus, and followed Jesus as directed; only to turn his head and caught sight of his fellow brother, John behind them. He wondered about his status.
Instantly, he asked, “Lord, what about this man?”
Do we find ourselves in this position? We participate in the comparison game. We know what God wants of us after wrestling through with him but to find that others may need to follow suit as well. The world indoctrinates us to compare and fight. This unduly curiosity of how others fare creeps into the church very subtly, in the disguise of care. There is a difference between our caring burden for our fellow pilgrim with being nosy. Peter was subdued by Jesus, “… what is that to you?” Peter’s intention was questioned. Jesus picked up his unduly concern and redirected it back to Peter to unveil his underlying motivation.
A genuine care mobilizes us towards thoughtfulness and kind acts to help the struggling party. However, we become nosy when we want to find out the state of others to play the comparison game and roll the judgemental dice. Jesus responded promptly. He diverted back to Peter. Jesus wanted to know what was the problem if that was John’s case.
Each of us is accountable to God. He calls each one of us to follow him. He desires us to be caring. In fact, he commands us to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) But he forbids us to be intrusive. We need to leave it to God to deal with every individual as he wants at his divine timing according to his divine wisdom.
The Lord points us to the ancient path. He wants us to set our eyes and heart on the journey ahead in following him, and not be distracted by people around us; to be mindful of our own business.
Where are we looking at as we walk with Jesus?
What do we hear? Do we hear him say, “Follow me”? What do you say of others?
Take some time now to pray for yourself and the narrow path you’ve embarked with Jesus. If you are still standing at the crossroad and dare not heed his voice to follow him, take time to search your heart and ask the difficult question, why or why not?
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 29 April 2020.